Loch Leven Lakes - Search Nearby - Added by Alex Shaw
Relatively easy access to beautiful scenery, low traffic. 5-8 mile hike depending on which lake you want to go to (Lower, Middle, High). Cliff jumping at the upper lake, catch and release fishing, pet friendly. No permit required however a permit is required for campfires.
To get to this trail go west on I-80 from Truckee, Ca. After 17 miles take the Big Bend exit and turn left at the stop sign at the bottom of the exit ramp. Follow that road 3/4 of a mile and the small parking lot will be on your right hand side. There is a bathroom there and the trailhead is directly across the street.
The trail is easy to follow for the first half mile until you get to some large slabs of granite. As you continue up the trail look for stacked rocks, these will give you a an easy route as you continue up the mountain. The trail then starts to switch back eventually leading to a small bridge. After crossing the bridge you will proceed roughly 1/4 of a mile and end up at a set of railroad tracks, the trail continues on the other side of the tracks straight across from where you came out.
Once on the other side the trail will continue up some switchbacks through the forest for another mile and is moderately steep until eventually defending into the first lake. If you continue from the lower lake another mile on the trail you will end up at the upper lake where there are rocks to jump off and more places to camp. The distance to the lower lake is 2.5 miles one way. If you intend to stay the night be sure to pack for any variables. I recommend this to anyone who wants a relatively easy trail to get into backpacking.
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Overall rating:
Awesome Time!
I did this with my Boy Scout troop and it was just amazing. The lake was little cold but it was fun swim in.
Backpacking Favorite
I have taken this trip twice in the last two years. Took scouts on two of the trips. Great break in hike for new backpackers. For an easier hike, enter via Salmon lake.
Makes a Great Day Hike Too
I did this with a buddy of mine as a day hike towards the end of August and it was a really great, not-too-long-but-long-enough hike. The first part is pretty steep from where you park until you hit the train tracks, but after that it's not so bad and the lakes themselves are really beautiful. We hiked all the way up to the High Lake and back, but we stopped to swim in the Middle lake which is a great spot with some islands out in the middle of it. Make sure you double-check for trains though, we caught it at just the right time and trains passed us going in both directions before we were able to cross the tracks and keep hiking on the way up.
